M A I N   N E W S

SGPC secy’s certificate bogus?
PU says it is not of Harbeant
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, September 15
The beleaguered SGPC secretary, Mr Harbeant Singh, is in a fix following the fact finding report submitted by the flying squad which has found his matriculation certificate to be bogus.

However, Mr Harbeant Singh has refuted the charge that his certificate was bogus as he has been working in the SGPC since 1968 on the basis of this certificate. He said the certificates of SGPC employees were checked enmasse in 1989 and nobody had then raised any objection over this. He, however, said he did not have the original copy of the certificate as it was attached with the application when he was employed by the SGPC. Mr Harbeant Singh alleged that the move of the SGPC was a pressure tactic to force him to withdraw the case from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He apprehended that the certificates in his service book might have been changed by some ‘miscreants’

Meanwhile, the SGPC Executive which met at Anandpur Sahib today restrained Mr Harbeant Singh from functioning as secretary till the submission of three-member fact finding committee comprising Mr Sukhdev Singh Bhaur, Mr Partap Singh and Mr Jagjit Singh, all executive members of the SGPC. The committee has been asked to submit its report at the earliest.

Sources pointed out that the report submit by Mr Mohinder, assistant secretary, flying squad, had stated he had got the facts verified from Panjab University, Chandigarh. The Controller of Examination, Panjab University, had stated that the certificate (roll number 134130) was issued in the name of Mr Veer Singh, son of Mr Kartar Singh (Guru Arjun Dev Higher Secondary Basic Training School, Tarn Taran). However, the certificate attached with the file of Mr Harbeant Singh with the same roll number reads his father’s name as Mr Sardul Singh. There is also a discrepancy in the date of birth as reportedly by the flying squad. While the date of birth in the certificate, attached in the personal file of Mr Harbeant Singh is January 5, 1949 the date mentioned by Panjab University of Veer Singh is April 7, 1949.

On September 11, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, SGPC president, had directed Mr Harbeant Singh to submit his original matriculation certificate by the evening of September 12. A reminder was issued by Mr Dilmegh Singh, officiating secretary, on September 13 which was delivered at his house as Mr Harbeant Singh had proceeded on two days’ leave. Though Mr Harbeant Singh was asked to attend today’s meeting at Anandpur Sahib, he did not attend it on the plea that he was on leave till September 15. As a result, Mr Dilmegh Singh, officiating secretary, conducted the proceedings of the Executive Committee.

In another development, the SGPC Executive also asked the three-member committee to suggest amendments in the service rules of the SGPC to minimise litigation.